Anchorages East Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah

A list of anchorages used by us during the Sail East Malaysia rally.

Chris Marchant UK on Gryphon 2
PENINSULAR
MALAYSIA
Jasons Bay
Sibu Island East
Bay

1 54 .3
2 12.86

104 07.7
104 03.66

5 m Mud
Sand and
mud
4m

Sibu Island South

Pulau Besar East
Pulau Babi Besar

2 28.742

103 57.25

Pulau Raja

2 41.99

103 53.98

Sand 12 m

Pulau Tioman East

2 49.33

104 09.51

Sand 8m

Pulau Tioman
West
Pulau Tulai

2 54.80

104 06.09

Roadstead at
Kuala Pahang

3 32.14

103 27.97

Sand patch in
16m shoaling
quickly to coral
lump in 7m
Sand and mud
4m

Chukai River

4 14.254

102 25.72

4m Mud

Kapas Island

5 13.73

103 15.73

5m Sand

Redang East Bay

5 46.11

103 02.15

Sand 9m

Redang North Bay

5 47.25

103 03.62

Sand 8m

Pulau Bidung

5 36.47

103 03.62

Sand 12m

SARAWAK
Santabong River

1 42.91

110 19.39

Mud 8m

Terengganu

Others Redang

Rolly keep out of fishing boat channel

Saw a turtleand jellies

Well sheltered except from north but we

could not find sand to anchor
Looks good anch near new pier on sand
Good anch but became rolly with south
18kts
Close to odd shaped islet. Good
snorkelling. Well protected from south
Good holding but rolly with west wind.
Land at marina.. may get berth, first come
first served! Good snorkelling off islet 1
mile south
Reported good anch in pretty bay with
restaurant
Horribly rolly for 2 hours in westerly.
Tar blobs in water spoilt otherwise pretty
bay
Sheltered from south by new
breakwater.but became very rolly
overnight. Entrance to river has clear red
and green buoys at entrance so probably
better to enter river?
Good holding and pleasant town with all
services to hand
Perfect anchorage, beautiful islands good
bar on southern one, turtle sanctuary on
north one
Marina or anchor close east of it. Easy
entrance through new breakwaters.
Strong tides. Dinghy ride to excellent
town with all services. Marina can
arrange fuel, gas, laundry etc. Good pool!
Noisy with launches and disco,
reasonable shelter
Posh hotel , good snorkelling off east
shore, swelly with wind in north.
Reportedly other good anchs off east and
south coast
Interesting mem. to Vietnamese boat
people ashore and some wrecks in bay
by new jetty. Goodish snorkelling with
turtle in bay.
Suspect holding, foul near biggest jetty,
crocs and dolphin in river. Useful village
ashore..land at fish farm or village creek.
Buses to Kuching

Pulau Lakei

1 44.86

110 30.03

Rock

Pulau Keramam

5 13.095

115 08.73

Sand 5m

Pulau Labuan

5 16.35

115 14.9

Mud

SABAH
Pulau Tiga

5 43.66

115 39.81

Muddy sand

Suteri Marina, KK

5 58.02

116 03.37

Pulau Gaya

6 00.76

116 03.32

Mud 21m

7 10.46
6 56.086

117 00.67
117 20.05

Mud 11m
Sand and mud
14m

Miri Marina

Kudat

Pulau Bangi
Pulau Mandidarch

Pulau Lankagan

Mooring in
22m

Pulau Silingaan

6 10 29

118.03.675 14m sand?

Sandakan YC

5 50.3

118 .307

12m mud and

rubbish. Navy
will dive for
free for fouled
anchors!

Pleasant anch but poor holding where we

were
Good marina , rotten showers etc. Helpful
office, friendly town a bike ride away.
Cheap bike hire in town
Excellent holding behind sand spit but
annoying roll with swell hooking around
end
Anchored east of dead marina and west
of oil jetty. Good holding 11 m. Hailed
water taxi to ferry terminal pier 5 RM.
Duty free easy to get as close to water
taxi at ferry term. We entered properly but
no need if not stopping and as it is a
separate state you have to do all again at
KK.
Excellent holding in 4 m and good shelter
from south. Watch for reef close E of this
position. In s wind anchor off resort to N
of island between pier and buoyed area
High class resort with helpful marina RM2
/ft /day. May be full but we were allowed
to Med moor. Shuttle bus to town. Hr
masters office is 30minutes away so we
cleared in at Kudat instead ..just do not
tell them you stopped at KK
Access by marked channel close to
towndirection of buoyage changes.
Much better anch. than off marina which
very exposed to S swell.Did not land but
there is reported to be a ferry to KK from
resort.
Small free marina with no water (except
shore standpipe) or elec. If no space in
marina can bow anchor and stern to
sloping wall. 20min walk to town
Pestered by 1 boatload begging children
4 boats dragged when here in a violent
50 knot westerly squall, one ending up on
the reef, floated again in the morning.
Perfect when we were there.
Resort island . We were unable to land as
wind came up strongly over night.
Conservation charge and other fees
apparently. Crystal clear water..reefs look
good. Island is a charted slightly out on C
Map slightly too far west
Beach covered in turtle tracks. Good
holding in 30+ squall. Park office ashore
with big turtle hatchery. Apparently not
supposed to land without permit only
available in KK! Allowed us to anchor but
requested out of the water by 5.30 and no
lights showing at night
Dragged in 45 knot winds and anchor
retrieved with car tyre and assorted
plastic bags and sheets. Much fishing
boat and other small craft traffic.
Reputation for theft but no boats had a

Kinabatangan
River

River anchorages

Dewhurst Bay

Evans Island
Dent Haven
Tungu Lighthouse

Pulau Gaya

Semporna

Semporna Navy
base Kuli Babang

Semporna
Tagassan Bay
Pulau Silungun

Horn Reef passage

Horn reef
Marbul

problem. Good services in town a short

walk away. Yacht club charges
membership 50 RM and 10 per daybut
worth it.
Northern entrance on 2.3 m tide had minimum depth of 3m. Most recent C map was
reasonably accurate. We used these waypoints.
5 53.7 118 15.7
5 50.5 118 19.0
5 48.9 118 20.2
5 47.6 118 20.4 Keep left!
5 46.8 118 20.1
River is easy to navigate as far as Sukau where low wires (16m ?) stop most boats .
Anchorage can be had anywhere on heavy mud. These are those we used. There
was no commercial traffic only resort launches and local small craft. We rented local
guide for river trip upstream. Most resorts cannot feed you as they bring in food with
tourists. A few groceries in Sukau and Thursday market.
5 40
118 23
Kg Abai
Near river cliff just below ferry
Kg Sukau
5 33.2
118 20.2
Off attractive creek
5 40.2
118 23.3
Off another attractice creek leading to
large ox bow lake with much wildlife,
including orangutan we missed again!
5 42.4
118 24.6
River anchorage
5 37.01
118 35.36
Mud 4m
Good anch. Easy entrance but avoid spit
on nw side of entrance, otherwise easy. C
map good
5 24.05
118 55.34
Mud 6m
Peaceful and breezy. C map accurate for
entrance.
5 14.975
119 15.7
Mud 5m
Became very rolly with swell hooking
round headland
5 00.87
118 53.41
Mud
Excellent holding in onshore 45 knot
squall, otherwise not a recommended
anchtoo exposed
4 35.73
118 43.44
Sand 5m
Most of atoll too deep. This shelf good
holding but a bit rolly to swell from S.
Clear water with rubbish. Colourful reef,
friendly begging from obviously needy
locals.
4 28.658
118 39.185 Mud 13m
Good holding, rough and ready town,
landing up creek, security questionable
??
4 25.121
118 35.464 Mud 5m
Calm, well protected . Navy rib came
around and wanted to know numbers on
board. Restricted area but allowed to
stay.
4 21.81
118.33.46
Mud 5m
Less protected than above but better for
waiting for tide through Semporna
channel. Ebbs south west.
4 19
118 27
Did not anchor due to masses of floats
and rain squall but potentially could in
better conditions
4 15.2
118 25.3
Did not anchor 20m but could do and
well protected by reef gfor most of tide.
4 16.032
118 28.47
Sand 12m
Near beacon, poor snorkelling
4 14.710
118 38.34
Sand 8m
Moved closer to dive rig, so we could eat
4 15.0
118.38.15
Sand 19m
there. They will pick up and return for ok
60 rm buffet Best snorkelling on far side
of island. Horrible contrast ashore
between posh dive resorts and very poor
village. Beggars afloat and ashore.

Roach reef

4 10.984

118.381

Sand 9m

Tawau

4 14.95

117 52.52

Mud 5m

Small island reclaimed from sand with

buildings but mostly abandoned except
for 2 fishermen sleeping. Good holding
sheltered from sw but a little bumpy when
we were there in northerly. Good
snorkelling on opposite side of island,
Similar to Sandakan but better shelter
and less wash from local boats. Excellent
yacht club with pool, cheap beer and
good food. Town 10 min walk for all
services, immigration, customs, harbour
master and Indo consulate by taxi for
visa. Fuel easily available by taxi or
reportedly a fuel barge.